Eddie Hearn reignites boxing’s version of ‘speak your mind’ following what he described as a “ridiculous” succession of events featuring American featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Throwing another punch, this time outside the ring, Hearn then took a jab at middleweight contender, Chris Eubank Jr after Conor Benn’s recent triumph.
Hearn, the English promoter, directed his ire at Stevenson following the top-ranked boxer’s performance in his recent fights. The promoter, well-known for his fiery critiques, didn’t hold back, labeling the fights as “ridiculous” and “lackluster”. Stevenson’s less aggressive approach inside the ring and his ‘safety first’ gameplay got under Hearn’s skin, triggering his salty comments.
With his 16-0 record, Stevenson has practically tiptoed his way through his professional boxing career, scoring only 8 knockouts. The young starlet is indeed a tactical fighter, his gameplan designed to avoid unnecessary damage. However, Hearn’s distress about Stevenson’s strategy has sparked fresh debates about what boxing fans want to see when they tune into a fight: tactical bouts that further careers or aggressive high-stakes matches that make hearts race?
In a recent jab at Stevenson, Hearn said, “One of the problems with American boxing is that they’ve got a big talent like Shakur Stevenson who can’t punch…get him in there with a real test.” Despite his strong words, it’s important to remember that Hearn is part of the boxing industry, where every bit of controversial soundbites generate headlines and potentially higher viewerships for future fights.
The promoter then changed his focus to Chris Eubank Jr. Hearn called Eubank out for a perceived lack of ambition following Conor Benn’s sensational victory over Samuel Vargas. Eubank has been vying for a domestic dust-up with Benn, and following Benn’s performance against Vargas, Hearn believes Eubank might get a run for his money.
BJ Saunders, Gennady Golovkin, and Canelo Alvarez have all been mooted as potential opponents for Eubank, but the Brighton-born boxer hasn’t seemed eager to agree to any of the bouts. This led Hearn to accuse Eubank of “sitting on the fence” and not having the guts to go for a big fight. Hearn publically stated “If Chris Eubank Jr. wants to prove he’s the real deal, he’s got to test himself against someone like Conor Benn.”
Chris Eubank Jr’s boxing career, though studded with gleaming moments, hasn’t looked too sharp recently. Even though he boasts an impressive 29-2 record with 22 knockouts, his recent performances haven’t lived up to the expectations, both in commercial terms and within the boxing community. This could be one of the reasons why Hearn put the onus on Eubank to step up.
In conclusion, whether or not one agrees with Eddie Hearn’s blunt observations, his comments make one thing clear: he wants to see boxing matches that capture audiences’ attentions, not just fights where the fighters play it safe until the last round. He advocates for energetic, high-stakes fights that make viewers and fans overwhelmed with adrenaline and unable to take their eyes off the match. But only the future will reveal if these fighters are ready to step up to the plate, and accept Hearn’s challenge.
